From My Front Steps: Ruminations, Observations and Longing in a Pandemic

by Joseph Pinto

from my front steps.where else was there to go? covid-19 shut down so much during the summer of 2020.like many others, i opened my creativity and a bottle of booze daily.this is a poetry collection written over the course of several days, sitting under sun and clouds, with notebook, pen, bluetooth speaker and drink of choice.a tale of ruminations, observations and longing in a pandemic.of discovery and change.of being cast out and cast aside.of want and faith.come sit with me.

49 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2021

Reviews

[Tara Caribou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this on my Kindle. This in an unsolicited review.

Joseph Pinto perfectly encapsulates life in pandemic in the city. Known as the barflypoet, Mr. Pinto writes his short form poetry from the stool of a bar more often than not. Enter the closing of many of the areas bars and he found himself drinking alone, ruminating on life and wistfulness from his front steps, the world passing by mere feet away.

Due to the subject matter, the book is a bit dark, a bit cynical, a bit sad, and a lot of those thoughts that spring upon us while doing the most mundane things in life. He mentions watching the squirrels and wild rabbits, passers-by on the sidewalk, his daughter in the house, and lost love. It's all highly relatable (other than the drinking part for me) and so I found myself nodding along as if I was sitting there listening to the man himself.

My favorite piece in the chapbook was "When Will We Be Us" which begins with the lines: 'you can't share my drink but we can share the sky'. Together they are tethered though something, the reader is unsure if it is distance or time, keeps them apart. It's a beautiful, wistful piece.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy short-form modern poetry with a hint of sadness but also kindness and love. I gave this one 4/5 stars.

[Carol Ann Doveatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Joseph Pinto in a poetry group and delighted in his sarcastic, humorous, raw, real life spoken and written poems. This poem book shares his thoughts while sitting on his front steps during the pandemic when the bars were closed and the barfly poet had nowhere else to go. Introspective, real, some sad, others about every day life that we all can relate to. I enjoyed reading his thoughts as he sat on his steps. My favorite poem is If I'm okay talking about his daughter's first sleepover, and My One about a relationship he hopes will return. His cynical drinkers raw honesty approach to writing captures my interest and really enjoying the poems; even the sad ones.The paperback edition is the one I have as I love to have my poetry books on my bookshelf in my book room. Anyone who likes short relatable poetry will enjoy this book and poet.